It is not surprising that Renton nearly doubles its water consumption during the summer.
Summer is when Renton’s Water Utility experiences its Peak Use Day (greatest volume of water used in a single day or in a single hour). The largest part of this increased water usage is for lawns and gardens. Even though we have a reliable and adequate supply of high quality water, these brief periods of peak use put a very large demand on the water system. As Renton grows, the demands of these peak days will also grow. To meet the peak demands, we need to maintain our water system’s capacity at a level that can, for a few days or weeks each year, deliver nearly twice the average daily volume of water.
What can be done?
Peak use demand can be eased by planning our outdoor areas to minimize our summer irrigation needs, as well as by observing a few simple outdoor water conservation activities. The watering rule of thumb for lawns is one inch of water per week. However, a more precise measure of your landscape's needs can be made by determining the amount of water the plant has actually been using, also called the evapotranspiration (ET). The Irrigation Water Management Society maintains a daily ET calculator for the Seattle area. The site will also estimate your lawn's supplemental water needs and calculate water schedules for automatic irrigation systems.
Minimizing lawn and garden water use
Making every drop count is the water-wise way to garden. Conserving water in the lawn and garden begins from the ground up with healthy soil. Careful site observation and planning can minimize water needs by ensuring the right plant is in the right place.
Use Natural Yard Care guidelines and tips when planning or renovating your landscape.
The EPA's water-smart landscape photo gallery has more tips.